Machine for applying transfer stamps to fabric



Mgy 20, 1930. c. G. RICHARDSON MACHINEl-OR APPLYINGv TRANSFERV STAMPS TO FABRIC Filed oct'. 12, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet www@ .oc s oo oo L. A nnaoooooooooosoeoooooooooonuu`n oooooo oooo o ww Qww E oooooaoo.ooo o.\hh. @@9@ May 20, 1930. c. G. RxcHARDsoN MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFER STAMPS-TO FABRIC Filed Oct. l2. 1927 -`4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M y 2.0, 1-930. c. G. RlcHARDsoN MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFER STAMPS TO FABRIC 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed Oct. 12, 1927 Koivu Zz/av;

May 20, l930.- c. G. RICHARDSON 1,759,712

CHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFER STAMPS vTo FABRIC sind oct. 12, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented May 20, 1930 fUNirsn STATES MON T PATENT oFF1cE`- cI-IARLES e. RIciIARnsoMjor sPRINerInLD, VERMONT, AssIeNoP. yIlo-PARKS swoonlsoN MACHINE COMPANY, or SPRINGFIELD, vnnMcN'rg A CORPORATION or van;

kIyIAoPIINn Fon APPLYING TRANSFER STAMPS To FABRIC Application mea october 1e, 1927. serial No. estrae This invention relates vto the art of applying decalcomania or transfer stamps to cloth either for the purpose of trade-marking 'the goods or for applying yard-markingnum#V k bers or the like to various kinds of fabric,V and is intended to provide yanoechanism which will be particularly suited tothe peculiar re quirements of a machine doing this work.

I find in practice that` itis highly desirable, to get the best result-s. when hot-pressing or stamping'such transfer stamps on fabric, that there shall hea complete absence of 'rubbing yor rolling contact between the platen audits cooperating` presser7 while at the same time itis desirable-'that the vmachine should cnjerate at considerable speed'in order'to facilitate lthe marking oflarge quantities of fabric without loss of time 'and atA small cost of operation. i f Y One of the principal characteristics of the machine lforming thesubj ect mattery hereof is thevcombining of av rotary drum, provided with a flat or truncated portion tangent t0 the circle of revolution', with an opposing revoluble element having avflat presser arranged so thatthe two opposing flat press-er surfaces may continuously revolve in contact with each other, during the transfer operation, thus avoiding the tendency toward rub- 39 -bing'that is incidental'to the use of arevolv` ing cylinder surface5 while permittingr rapid operation ofthe machine. y

@ther features that are characteristic of he present improvement relate to the controlling ofthe feedof the tape bearing the transfer stamps andthe disposal thereof after thek stamps have been impressedupon the fabric, with the minimum of trouble and inccnvenience, including the heating of the tensioning rolls Vwhich draw the tape over the pressing bed or platen, and the preliminary heating of successive transfer stamps-'before they reach the platen. or presser bed in order to soften the stamps before they are impressed upon the 4r fabric, thereby avoiding the use of ascorching heat in the presser operati on; Theseand other features of the invention will be described in thefollowing specification and will be defined in the claims hereto annexed. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the tape-feeding and transferring drum partly broken away to show the tape-supplying reel, thefeeding and drawing off mechanism in association with the flat revolving pressed bed.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of this drum@v Figure 3 is a detail view showing, in fro-nt elevation, the relation cf the tape-uncoiling and ,feed rolls by which the transfer tape is fed to the vplaten by regulated and accurately Vcontrolled feed. n y

Figure i is a plan lview of the drum showing the truncated cut away portion of theperiphery with the interiormechanism,y and the draft rolls for disposing of the Waste tape.

Fig. 4ta. is' a detail view in side elevation" showing one of the side arms of a tape car"- rying reel and its means of attachment to the reel shaft. 'j

Figure 5 is a cross sectional .view of the va.-

riable circumference feed roll. Figure 6 1s a detail View showlngthe stationjary feed-actuating cam and the commutator through which passes the electric current used for the heating elements; carried by the revolving drum.

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the drum i and its co-acting presser inoperative position to press the transfer stamp against the fabric. Figure 8 is a detail showing', in front eleva-y tion, the revolving presser. y'

Figure 9 is a central sectionthrough the presser;

Figure l0 1s an end elevation of the reel and the tape-drawing off mechanism. v,

Figure ll is a detail Vview principally in vertical ycross section of the frictional drive vadjustment used for setting the iinalv draft driving chain equipped for' feeding the tape..

Fig. 1S is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuits for heating the platen and e the draftor tensioning rolls that draw the tape across the platen. fr

As decalcomania 'stamps are preferably applied 'at precise intervals along the lengthk I' of/the clothland'las, .particularly inthe case;

i Y Vof yard marking and numberingby"decal-v comaniazstamps, itis essential that this 'spac-y ingvbe Very exact,provision has tobe made -for veryaccurate=feeding of the tape to those points onV the cloth "where the successive stamps are to vbeapplied Furthermorej` as the Vtransferrstamp tape isv lcoiled into a roll,vv and as thestamp's'are rathergummyoij sticky, Y

yfor stripping or unwinding suiiicientlengfth of Y tape Y from the coil without putting'Y unnecessary tensiononthe feedV roll which con-` trolsl the` deliveryl of previouslydeterinined lengths of tapete the lpresser'elements which it"'isc'lesirfiblcii that provision should be made apply the stamps to thefoloth. Moreover,

sincethe drum, that carries the tape and the-V y n mechani'sm,must revolve quite rapidly in or-.V der to do its'work expeditiously, theftapef should be held taut untilit hasipassed `'beyond thepoint offtransfer.v To effect this, pull or draft rolls','beyond the platen where the trans'-v h ferf takesplace, mustV be properly yco-ordi p natefdV with the controlling; delivery-roll which v Vdetermines Lthe. rate of feed. YF urthermoregjV jV adjustment khas to be provided by which the tape may beV drawn through theniachineto Y j, suchAv a position that'thesuccessive stamps Swiiiexactly*registerwith the Samefpoiia or 30v transfer on the'platen, andzprovision is also` made,"in cases, of any departure frein this i .exact registry,v to re-.set or re-adjust the driv- 'Z ing mechanism to restore the exact register ofthe successive transfer stamps `with the p oint'of transferf on :the platen. p The draftV K Y Y rolls mustalso'functionwithout having' their action impaired through Vbecomingsticky through the'adhesion ofthe gum on the stamps to their'surfaces. f-

i l Vto the form illustrated in the drawingsy Ihave l devised i constructions :whichftake fullV cognizance of all these re-VLVVY vrtails `of In thel practice of this invention, according and arrangements quirements, and .I will now describe the deconstruction illustratedin the draw-v ings. Y f

1 ,EXcept'for the stationary cam 7, mounted upo'n theiixed hollow bearinginembera,

tapetravels .,towardthe platen. Above the i Y flanges-is placed a cross strip 15,v which forms .i a [coverV toprevent :the outward/bulging' of "the tapewatthis lpoint when'the drum visrevolving;vv Both 'the platen and the guide-V plate 44; areprovided underneath with elec# .y tric heating cartridges orunitslb and-44?, .Y

the latter serving as apreliminary heater to soften the transfer stamps-so that 1t is notl necessary to have a 'scorching heatV on the platen ini-Vorderv tok satisfactorilyeifect the transfer/of the stamplrby rpressure `to the I A'will' nowl fdescribej the Ymechanism by which the accurate'feeding of theftape is.: accomplished. i Y A* Y Mounted abouta transverse axis on the the stationary helicalcam 7, isl a revoluble spur-'geared so coi-ordinated with the'helical end of the drum, in 4position tovinesh with Y cam-or screw that onerevoiution ofthe drum" operates to rotatethis spur-gear one tooth ini the direction landQ.V Y *l As shown in Figure'?, the lspur-gear 8Y isV compounded on a shaftwith a pinion 9V which'r j mesliesfwith a pinion 10 thatj'is splined yto a diainetricallyv to formr Vane'iqaansible -h'ead orfchuck, this head or chuclrbeing conically ofthe arrows shown ini Figures Y' l 'shortshaft or spindle [111, whose inner end-is i enlarged to form ahead 15. lthat is split Ybored atits center andbeing threaded tore-1 v l' ceive an expanding screw V13y which carries may be forced -fartherf into the fexpan'sible headv or 'chuck lrfwith j its conicalV lportion acting ,toiexpand the periphery of the ,headl Vintoffrictionalengagement with tlicfinterior i face of asprocketgear.l2.- :In'this'waythereis formed a releasable or'.easily,'disconnected drive connection between'the shaftl, driven bythepinion 10, and the sprocket wheel' l2Av over which passes a sproclret chain Hei: tending lengthwise and. interiorly of the drunitoai sprocketl4 on lthe shaft of the ta-pe-feedingroll` 18. v f The tape-feeding roll mustbe very accu` rately calibrated or adjusted'finforderto feed exactly vthe proper predetermined lengthof` Vpoint-at eachfrevelution -1 of the'drumin orderthatv the' successive; transfeifstamps en the tape may bew-madeto Y tape to the transfer va "roughened ori milledl head 13?formingv a; j .hand-wheetby which the expanding studi accuratel reo'isterwith'the jointofol'ifl y is Y Y ,c

cation between the-, press`er'bed or 'pl/atentand.

over, there'mustbe nojslippage von ythe con-gj trolling' lfeed, roll,.-'To moet these.require'-y 1315 vits co-acting revolvingnpresser pad.' Moielf fr ments the controlling feed-roll is constructed to provide-an accurateadjustmentfor giv ingA ity exactly the correct circumferential 'f measurement, and this is `accomplished by providing eachcf the end heads 18,J of this roll, that areA secured to the shaftlSV thereof;Y

with volute or-spirallgroovesl? their inside faces. A thin circuinferentiai` sliellyV` of sheetlnietal 18d is'drawn into both spiral vtgrooves and by its circumferential-1adjust-- inentits periphery is set nearer to or farther;V

from the cent-ral shaft or axis. Around the Not only is the individual governing feed-v" roll provided with the adjustment described,

but provision is made for the quick and con- Y venient substitution of feed-rolls of ldifferent mitting the unwound stretchjof tape to be sizes since the spacing of various transfer stamps on the tape will vary much more than the practicable range of adjustment of one cylinder will compensate fon' To this end, as shown in Figure 4, one end of the rollshaft 18a-is formed with a bearing socket to receive the bearing stud 18i carried, on atpivotal arm 18g which is normally pressed toward the roller by a coiled spring 18i. At the opposite end of the roller the square end of vthe'shaft projects into the socket-ed end of a short shaft 18m. Obviously, the pushing of the ybearing member/and its-cap-supportingarm 18g outward allows the opposite square end of the shaft 18L to-be withdrawn from lthe socket in the yshort .spindle 18m withoutl loss of timeto permit 'the quick substitution of al properly calibrated roll to be used in connection ywith adifferently spaced transfertape. c Y .s

A cooperating feedroll 19is` mounted below-the cont-rolling'feed-roll 18, said idler roll 19 being mounted in pivotal armsr20 by which the outer roll 19 is yieldingly pressed against-the underside of the feed roll 18,v this pressure being induced vby, a: tensioning spring 21 secured to the. cross-bar 20a which connects the short arms of these levers'.

The tape-carrying reell with its 'stripping or unwinding mechanismfis ofnovel conr-v struction an'd is intended to obviate troubles that might result from the adhesion of one layer of tape in the coil to another to maintain a substantially uniform vbut light ten sion'uponthe tape that is being delivered V- s n y frame comprising vertical arms 28, a crossfrorn the reel to the regulating feed-rollV 18. Provision is alsomade .for quickly and conveniently removing the reel from vits bearing supports in order yto -introducefresh spools of tape. It will be understood that the tape-carrying` reel is frictionally and intermittently drivenand that it is coordinated with a stripper or pullofr device which draws off predetermined lengths -of tape and maintains tension thereon, vthe `stripper device being so related to ythe revoluble reel that when a-sufiicient supplyr of'ftape has been drawn off at any given time 'the 'reelis locked or held against rotation, thus per maintained under tension until such length of tape hastbeen taken up by the feed-roll, at

which time the revoluble reel. is released and the stripper againl performs its unwinding or drawing offV function.

The reel comprises a centrali'shaftvv 27 which Vis* externally threaded practically throughout itslength, and overwhich areV slipped centrally bored tape-gripping arms 31 which are slidable axially on the shaft but are keyed thereto by shortkeys 31b inserted in the longitudinal key-way in the shaft, and having their projecting edges sharpened `to slightly` cut into and grip a spool barrel on which the transfer taperis coiled in 'order to Vprevent circumferentialv slipof the tape-spool on the shaft or spindle 27. VFurthermore, they inside 'faces of the 'heads or arms 31 are roughened or burred as at 32 to -frictionally grip the spirally Wound edges of the tape-coil to hold themy against' displacement. s

w Outside of the head 31 are mounted, on the shaft27,int'ernally threaded disks or nuts 33,

provided with anl overhanging boss carrying e short shaft 27b a ratchet-wheel 26 whose outer v- .face frictionally engages the friction pad 25 secured tothe inside face of the sprocket 24?*so that'the vratchet is frictionally driven, and

when rotated communicates its rotationtothe at the opposite end of the shaft, acts not only to keep the polygonal end 27a of theshaft 27 pressed into its engaging and driving socket, e

but also exerts a thrust which creates a pressure between the ratchet 23 and the friction drivingpad 25. j I

Extending beyond the reel is a `pivotal connecting rod or'roller 28?L oining Vtheir upper ends, and a rock-shaft 28b joining these arms vnear their lower` ends but at a short distance therefrom to leave they short arm 28Cto which is attached a tensioning spring 28d anchored to a fixed pin in the frame end tending to force the tape-engaging roller or bar 28a Y away from-the reel. One arm 28 of the stripper device carries a pivotal'link 28E which has Y pivotal engagement with a pawl 30 supported on a fixed fulcrum to engage the ratchet26 reelthrough the shaft 27 Q A thrust-spring 34,

imA

when the stripper frame 28, 28a is swung away from the reel. As will be best understood by referring to Figure 3, the tensioning spring 28d normally tends to swing the stripper frame backward or away fromthe reel, but

vwhen that framej approaches its rearward limit of traverse the pawl 'then becomes engaged with the ratchet teeth 26, thus preventing unwinding rotation of the reel and mainiae taining uthe i bight or stretch of tapefbetvveeii vthe reel', the stripper andthe .feed-roll' 18 Y under 'a light tension tolkeep i't taut. The

feed roll 18continues to drawoff ythe 'tape for delivery fto the transfer pressers, and in .so

doing gradually pulls forward the strpp'ef frameQS until the lpaWl- BO Vbecomes disen-,H

gaged from theratchet., Wheiifthis happens i` e the stripper is again retracted by its actuatingspringtostrip offer uncoila further sup-y plyof tape frointlie reel, Whosefricti'on feed is then allowedjtooperate.

- 'lheptapey passing over Vth topfof' tliefeedv control` roll 181 and aroundthe idler roll '19,.,

as shownV indotted lines inigured, thence passes over guideplate i4 beneaththe .oever V to the vheated"presser:plateor platen L Where it is pressed against the fabricby'means ofa vrevolving presserpad, presently to bede# scribed. f It is,'of course, important that thisY stretch of thetape also be kept tant'top'revent Y a vjg'rictional ydrive tojavoid eilzerting"toofposi-v tive a pullupon the tape that is delivered at a Wrinklin'g and, accordingly, revoluble draft' e rollers 4:1, `472, looated just beyond the platen )nare employed to drawthetap'e forward and keep it taut. These draft yrollers are driven by Y predetermined -rate .'from.. the feed-roll 18;

These -draft i rollers 41,42, areinade Ahollow Y jfor the reception of electrically,'heatedf'carf tridges ila and @Eso astosoften'any Vguin yfrom theystam'ps adhering thereto and allowing-it to'run ofi". `Preferably these"rollsare longitudinally corrugatediand the Corrugated portions areinterrupted frequentannular groove'sthe annular grooves ,on one rollrrbeing offset fromthe-planes ofthe annular groovesl fof the other roll-so;t;hat the annular grooves LV providechannels into which the softened-gum .'10 t tionsl of the roll.Y This construction and ai'- ma'vffow from the'narroW Corrugated pori" ranfrement revents vthe accumulation of Ouin of the tape insuch a Way asto interferervvith the proper dira-ft of the :rollsonhthe tape.` Electrical Wireszlead; to the heating car# tridges V38 inserted inthe rollswhich are in von the rolls'vvhich mightcause the adherence Y circuit with .the preheating cartridge 44h,`ar`

Y* circuit from the heating Aranged beneath the, guideplatesi, these Yheat-Y ing elements being ineludedfin ajdiiferent Y Y elements @that are inserted in the heated platenfl.

.The corrugation'sof .the tworollsil and intermesh with each other so.V tliatthe upper roll is .drivenffrom the lower one. `The lower roll carries -atone end a driving. inion' "tnieshingwitha pinion 39 niounted'loosely on thev shaft or arbor 35. This vpinion S9- is i i' frctionallydrivenby lateral Contact `with the 'friction .disk 16h Which vis integral Vwith the n Y sprocket Wheel 16v-and with the hand-adjust-1v Y, ing nut 15e. A spiral 'spring,.16a,'abutting Y against a thrust nut on the endof the arbor l .35, keeps the sproket friction element pressed against lthe face'of the drivingpinion 39;

; on the fabric.

T he sprocliet Vvvheel 1G is jengagedand"driven by' the 'sprocket chain'lrso that thedra-ft rolls,lthe feed roll and the unwinding reelare alldriven `from acoinmon driving element,V

,n'ainely, the Worin-gear 8.

' Since yit is desirable that the feeding of the tape should momentarily 4cease While the tape is being pressed'A against the-fabric ybetween i the?v presser Vmembers, thev stationary Cainl 7 has jan intermediate' u'straight `line p'kciritiony over this straight'lineportionof tlie'vvorm'f? individual transfer stamp is'hot-pressed upf ried stamp upon'theffabrie, is ymounted on; a Counter-shaft Which-is parallel or substanfV during the transferfoperation ,inV 'Which-.theV eo f f Tlierevolving presserfpad that co-acts vvith n the flat platen't, tofiinp'ress each 'tape car tiaily so Withthe .ofV revolution of the` drum 1,-overfivhieh'the' cloth travels,` and Coinprisesan 5l, provided Ywith a bere]- 5ln,'\vhich is split to permit it to ,beV elampedf upon the revolvingishaft 50lto revolve there- With ing limited by a stopppiii`54zengaging`.a slot plunger 52 is slotted for the insertion of -a shoe 55` Whoseopposite ends are turnedjup at 'l an angle to .form al heel and toe to "act asf a" runner to properly guide 'the shoe Whichdisv its movements. VV*To the underside or outside l-piv'oted in the slotted endof the plunger in vof this shoen is securedrauiiatvpresser plate or i pad 5,6. ,Thefforvvard ertoe endrof thezshoe 55 is normally tilted toward its axis 'otro`- 1075 tationfby Vmeans ofa` 'tensioning spring57l Y attached kto the short end of arocker-'arm 5S WhoseA oppositeiend or'long armisconnected n by a link `59 to the'shoe 55."` j l v Inorder tovary theposition ofthe stop-*pin 'ifiog 54, a sleeve 51h, is adjustably 'clamped ontheY outer end 'of the'a'rmi 5l., The'adjustmentfof*V i this sleeve determinestlie. outermost. limitof Y 'movement oflthepliin'gerQ. 'The anchored end ofy the spring? is anchored'toa'clip 5T attached to Ythis sleeve 51".1k It nWill, therefore,.be seen that the'presser t" pad 56' has a pivotal or rockingmove'me'nt y x with relation to the outer end ofthe plunger., l

Whichitself canV move in aradial direction With relation "to its 'axis ofvrotation. e The'A l object of: this arrangement is to producefan effective pressure between flat presser surfaces to pressl the" transfer stamp or tapefirmlylrkvv for a brief interval between .the flat surfaces While both the pressere'leinents arerevolvingff TheV pressure between fiat plates is theV most effective for: getting a clear, distinct and unblurred impression of the transfer stampQ e i5 VWithout inclination, as shown at 7'?, this being` i so eoord'inated'that Vthe- Wormgearis'passing againstthe cloth, and maintain suchfpressure combination with a revoluble cloth drum, a

risalire 18. Inga stamp-transferring machine, the" combination With a continuously revolving`v cloth drum, a presser platen mounted thereon,

means for feedingto the' plateny measured lengths of a transferstamp carrying tape, a rotatable feed-actuatinggear mounted on` said drum, a stationary gear-actuating-'Worm y positioned to engage said kactuating 'gear' to rotate it by means of the rotary movementof the drum, said'wormhaving intermediate of its'ends a straight4 portion which, when engaged by the actuating gean'holds the gear temporarily at rest to yprevent feedingv the tape during the transfer operation.v

19. In a stamp-transferring `machine` the j heated yplaten 'secured rthereto a coacting presser pad forpressing yan interposed trans* ferstamp againsttheclothon the platen,

tape-feeding means for feeding ay stamptransfer tape to transferring position between the pressers', rand a preheating device arranged-fin proximity to the tape'in advance of vthe platen to soften they stamps successively i f passing near itbefore-they reach thetrans-v fer position over the platen. i

20. In a ystamp-transferring machine,.the

I combinationwith afrevoluble cloth drum54 of a presser, a heated platen secured 'to the drum to receivethe pressure of the coactingk presser, means for feeding measured lengthsy of a transfer-stamp carrying tape to transfer position over the platen, said feedingmeans i including heated Adraft rolls fordrawing the tape beyond the platen and removing the gummy residue of thev used transfer ystamps therefrom. f 1

`other roll. v 1 a c t .v In wit-ness whereof, I have subscribed the f 21. Degumming draft rollsfor a'transfer- `,f stamp tape embracing longitudinally-corru-V .a gated intermeshing rolls provided 'With ani nular groovesythe grooves of oneroll being axially offset Withrelationto thoseV of the above specification.

CHARLES G. RIoHARDsoNf 

